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THE 



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LONGFELLOW MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION, 



OF CAMBRIDGE. MASS. 



REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. 







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^;WASH* 






CAMBRIDGE: 

William H. Wheeler, Printer. 

188^. 



^ 



THE 



LONGFELLOW MEMORL^L ASSOQATION, 



OF CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 



REPORT OF THE FINANCE COIVIIVIITTEE. 



^ 




CAMBRIDGE: 
William H. Wheeler, Printer. 

1883. 



v^ 



V 



REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. 



Soon after the death of Mr. Longfellow, it occurred 
to some of his neighbors that it would be an appropriate 
tribute to his memory, if the lot opposite his house, 
which he had for years kept open in order that he 
might enjoy the view over the Charles River, could be 
purchased, and adorned with a permanent memorial 
of him. 

Several meetings were held in order to consider the 
feasibility of such a plan, and out of these meetings 
grew the Association which was, at a later date, incor- 
porated by a special act of the Legislature of Mas- 
sachusetts. The object of the Association as expressed 
in this Act is, "to provide suitable memorials to the late 
Henry W. Longfellow, and to arrange for their care 
and preservation." 

In pursuance of this object the Association has been 
collecting funds since thcit time. The actual labor of 
raising this money was, by the By-Laws, devolved 
upon the Finance Committee, which has, during the 
year, held many meetings, at which every phase of the 
subject has been discussed with fullness, and the indi- 
viduals have, in addition, devoted a great deal of time to 
the matter outside of the meetings of the Committee. 



4 LONGFELLOW MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 

The direct execution of the plans was placed in the 
hands of two Sub-Committees, a Committee on Collec- 
tions, and another on Children's Subscriptions. Both 
of these have attended to their duties constantly through 
the year. The Finance Committee decided that a call 
should be made for a National Subscription of one dollar 
from each person, that being the smallest sum necessary 
to constitute one an Honorary Member of the Associa- 
tion, and although larger amounts were gladly received, 
the impression became so general that the call was 
strictly limited to gifts of one dollar, that larger sums 
were seldom sent to the Treasurer. 

The Association found itself embarrassed at the out- 
set by the very popularity of the proposition that it 
presented to the public, for two Associations were very 
soon formed, one of which copied our methods even in 
detail. These deprived us of the support of many who 
would otherwise have sent their subscriptions to us. 

One of these was formed in England soon after our 
plan had been announced, for the purpose of placing a 
bust of the poet in Westminster Abbey. It intended 
also to raise large sums to endow scholarships in the 
different Universities of England. Some five hundred 
pounds were collected, and the placing of the bust in 
the Abbey insured; but there the movement stopped, 
for subscriptions did not reach the treasury in sufficient 
sums to make further efforts likely to prove successful. 

In a similar manner, a Society was soon formed in 
Portland, which also adopted a name similar to our own. 



REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. 5 

and imitated our various plans for raising funds, issuing 
a certificate of membership, and cards for children. 

Both these schemes naturally followed such a prop- 
osition as that made by this Association, and it was, 
of course, lor many reasons desirable that the poet 
should be commemorated both in the place of his birth, 
and also in the mother-country, where his popularity 
was perhaps greater than that of her own greatest 
poet. We are glad to know that success has crowned 
each effort. 

Notwithstanding the popularity of the plan it soon 
became apparent that the attempt to interest a nation of 
fifty millions in a memorial, even to one so much beloved 
as its greatest poet, was an undertaking of vast propor- 
tions for an association like our own which had no far- 
reaching agencies previously established. The first effort 
of the Committee on Collections was to give information 
to the public, in all parts of the Union, that the subscrip- 
tion was open, and that contributions would be welcomed, 
and as far as possible at that time to show the nature 
of the proposed Memorial. A list of the principal news- 
papers in the different states and territories was pre- 
pared (somewhat over a thousand) and to those such 
printed matter as was issued by the Committee was sent 
from time to time. The editors of these papers were 
exceedingly cordial towards the movement, and to their 
kindness a large portion of whatever success has attended 
the efforts of the Association is due. The spirit of these 
notices may be seen in that of Mr. George William 
Curtis, in Harpers' Weekly, for May 27. He said : 



6 LONGFELLOW IVi'eMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 

" No more beautiful or worthy object could be proposed to 
all who have felt the pure and hallowing influence of the 
genius of Longfellow ; and if every I'eader of these words 
who has been cheered and strengthened by the poet will send 
a dollar to the treasurer, the pious work will have been accom- 
plished." 

Simultaneously with these efforts to give information, 
the Committee made arrangements to prepare a design 
for a Certificate of Honorary Membership, and another 
for the Children's Memorial Card. The Certificate of 
membership was drawn by a member of the Committee 
on Plans, and was printed with much care, on parch- 
ment paper, in order that it might be suitable for pres- 
ervation. The children's card, which contains a reduced 
fac-simile of an autograph of one of Mr. Longfellow's 
poems, was prepared with care, and bore the best like- 
ness of Mr. Longfellow that has yet been produced, 
and also a new and very pleasing view of his house, 
which was drawn for it. 

Feeling that the community immediately about the 
home of Mr. Longfellow would be most interested in 
commemorating his inspiring life, the Committee pre- 
pared a circular for distribution in Cambridge, and sent 
it to all persons whose names could be obtained. Some 
nine thousand of these were sent out, each accompanied 
by a subscription-heading. 

Afterwards a special circular, prepared by the Com- 
mittee, was addressed to about twelve thousand persons 
in Boston and the suburbs. Circulars were also sent 
and letters written to the proprietors of the principal 



REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. 7 

hotels in Boston, and to the officers of the different 
Clubs. 

At the same time circular letters were addressed to 
all the Senators and Members of the House of Repre- 
sentatives at Washington, to the Justices of the different 
Courts there, and to the Heads of the various Depart- 
ments of the National Government. Letters were also 
written to the Governors of each of the States and 
Territories, giving an account of the proposed Memo- 
rial, and asking their co-operation. In a number of 
cases these officials replied very cordially, sometimes 
giving emphatic expression to their appreciation ot the 
character and work of Mr. Longfellow. 

The Governor of Rhode Island, after expressing his 
willingness and pleasure to co-operate in the work, 
said : — 

"Among the many authors who have contributed to estab- 
lish and to raise the standard of American literature, no one 
is entided to a warmer place in the hearts of our people than 
the gifted writer whose memory you are endeavoring to pre- 
serve in so fitting a manner. The noble traits of character so 
conspicuous through his long career, and the example and in- 
spiration of liis spotless life, would alone entitle him to a 
nation's gratitude." 

Governor Bloxham, of Florida, wrote : — 
"Longfellow as a poet and a man illustrates the highest 
type of our civilization, and as such, I esteem it not only a 
matter of pride, but an act of duty we owe to ourselves and 
to the future of the country, to give, now that he is dead, 
some expression of our appreciation of his talents and virtues. 
The influence of his life and works upon American morals 



8 LONGFELLOW MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 

and letters has been greater, perhaps, than we are capable of 
estimating at this time, and it is my wish that that influence 
may continue." 

Gov. Bell, of New Hampshire, said: — 
"We erect monuments to warriors and statesmen who have 
rendered service to the country, but the same honor has rarely 
been paid here to literary men. It is quite time that the poet 
should have his due. Longfellow, had he written nothing 
beside the ' Psalm of Life,' would have been one of the great 
benefactors of the people ; but all his works have done honor 
to our national literature, have been elevating and refining in 
their influence, and have conti'ibuted to make the world 
happier and better." 

The Governor of Illinois writes : — 

" I regard the movement as a most worthy one. The peo- 
ple of this free country will fail to do their duty if they do 
not, without long delay, provide some lasting memorial which 
shall testify to future generations their high appreciation of. 
and aftection for, Henry W. Longfellow, the Poet." 

The Governor of W3^oming Territory said : — 
" Every American is the richer for the legacy of so pure an 
example, and the fruits of a genius so lofty and noble, as were 
left to his countrymen by this Prince of Poets." 

The next step involved sending out circulars to post- 
masters throughout New England, who were requested 
to give publicity to the movement. During the height 
of the summer season, circulars were sent to the propri- 
etors of the leading summer resorts, who, in some 
cases, brought the subject to the attention of those in 
their houses, and even sent the names of their guests to 
the Society. 

The information having thus been very generally 
circulated throughout the country, the Committee began 



REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. 9 

correspondence with persons in prominent places, for 
the purpose of forming local associations at important 
centres. This correspondence still continues, and has 
resulted in the inauguration of movements under the 
care of Associations or Committees, viz. : Washington, 
Wilmington (Del.), Baltimore, San Francisco, New 
Orleans, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Jacksonville 
(111.), Utica, Colorado Springs, and Fitchburg (Mass)'. 
In many other places the Committee has been able 
to find persons readv to interest the local public, but 
who did not think it necessary to organize formal asso- 
ciations or committees. 

Circulars were sent to all the leading booksellers in 
the country, asking them if they would receive sub- 
scriptions. A large number of them very cordially 
accepted the duty, and to them circulars, posters, and 
subscription-headings w^ere sent. Some of them after- 
wards reported members to the Association, and remit- 
ted funds to the Treasurer. In these various ways, 
something more than 125,000 circulars have been issued 
by the Association. 

The summer holidays interrupted the work some- 
what, because during that season the persons whom it 
was desirable to interest were, many of them, away 
from their homes. On the approach of autumn, how- 
ever, work began again with energy. 

The ladies of Cambridge very soon formed an 
Association, which divided the city into districts, and 
appointed agents in different localities, who visited the 



lO LONGFELLOW MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 

citizens at their homes, and offered them the opportunity 
to make themselves members of the Association, or in 
any other way to contribute to its funds. The effort, 
which is still progressing, has already resulted in the 
addition of several hundred dollars to the Treasury. 

Simultaneously with this movement, an effort was 
made to interest the young men and women of the 
Colleges in the country, and a special circular, prepared 
for them, was sent to more than four hundred such 
institutions. Comparatively few of them responded ; 
but from several — Harvard College, Wellesley, Yale, 
Williams, Cornell University, and others — favorable 
replies were received, and the canvassing of these 
institutions is still in progress. The undergraduates in 
fr Harvard College have in considerable numbers become 
Honorary Members of the Association. 

The Committee on Children's Collections came to 
the conclusion, in the spring, that no successful effort 
to interest the children of the country could be begun 
before the autumn ; but after the summer vacation, the 
beautiful Children's Card, which had been prepared 
under its auspices, was ready to be issued, and a circular 
announcing the fact was printed and widel}' distributed. 

The Superintendent of Schools in Cambridge took im- 
mediate interest in the matter, thoroughly organized the 
movement in his schools, and some three thousand of the 
children became purchasers of the Memorial Cards. At 
the same time the School Committee of Boston suspended 
the rule which forbids circulating subscription papers 



REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. 



II 



among the children, and an agent of the Memorial 
Association was permitted to visit all the schools, which 
he did with success, and about ten thousand children 
subscribed. At the same time the interest in the chil- 
dren's Memorial cards became quite general throughout 
the country, and many teachers voluntarily interested 
themselves in bringing it to the attention of their pupils. 
The following table shows the States and Territories 
from which contributions have come for children's cards, 
and the approximate number of cards which have been 
sent to them.* 



California 

Canada 

Colorado . 

Connecticut 

Dakota . 

Delaware . 

Dist. of Columb 

Florida 

Illinois 

Indiana . 

Iowa . 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michiaran 



Minnesota 
Nebraska 
New Hampshire 
New Jersey . 
New York . 
Nevada . 
North Carolina 
Ohio . . . 
Pennsylvania 
Rhode Island 
Tennessee 
Texas . 
Virginia . 
Washington Ter 
West Virginia 
Wisconsin 



. 280 
10 

• 90 
. 180 
. 60 

• 250 

10 

. 1520 
10 

• 90 
. 40 

10 
130 

• 50 
20,010 
. 90 

Total 28,660 



20 

30 

no 

270 

1090 

10 

30 

350 
470 
ISO 
80 
20 
40 
10 
10 
30 



* There are at present in the hands of agents - 

996 Certificates 

6920 Cards 



A considerable number of these will probably yet be paid for. 



692 

^1688 



12 LONGFELLOW MEMORIAL ASSOCLVTION. 

The following" extracts are selected from many letters 
written by children, accompanying their heart}' gifts. 
A little girl trom Maryland says : 

'• In this letter I send you one dollar, which I have earned 
by doing without butter for six weeks. I like Mr. Longfellow 
very much, and I have read a great many of his poems." 

From Pennsylvania the Ibllowing was received : 
•'My little sister Annie, and I, having read in the 'St. 
Nicholas' about the Longfellow Memorial Association, are 
both anxious to contribute a small share t9w^ards the erection 
of a monument to the memorj' of our dear American poet. 
Please accept our contributions, and consider us willing little 
members of the Association." 

A little boy in Cincinnati, who collected ten cent sub- 
scriptions among his classmates, writes : 

" I had no trouble in getting the ten cents from eacli bov, 
as all of us boys have a very great respect for our great poet 
who has written so many beautiful poems. We hope that 
our small tribute will be some help to vour work. Please 
send the cards, so that the boys may be sure that I sent you 
the money." 

The agent who has visited the schools of Boston, 
has also undertaken to do the same service in some 
of the other cities in Eastern Massachusetts, and he has 
been cordially received wherever he has gone. 

A circular addressed to children, and the other cir- 
culars, have been sent to newspapers throughout the 
country, followed by special items to many of them. 
Wherever the Association was engaged in forming a 
local Society, the Secretary has taken pains to send 
special items of information to the local editors, and 



REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. I3 

these have heen printed in hirge numbers and widely 
copied. Many editors have applied directly for special 
information about the movement, and it has been sent 
them from time to time. 

The formation of Auxiliar}^ Associations has required 
voluminous correspondence, as the Committee has not 
always been able to find the proper person to take 
charge of a local association without much investiga- 
tion. Some of the local associations have proved very 
vigorous. An important one was formed in Washing- 
ton under the direction of the Hon. Horatio King. It 
included members of the Cabinet and other prominent 
persons of that city, who thus gave their valuable sup- 
port to the movement, and set an example to other cities. 
In the same way Mr. Andrew C. Trippe of Baltimore 
interested the community, and an active association has 
been formed there. In San Francisco the effort to 
establish a local association was met with great cordial- 
ity, and the principal citizens of the place gave their 
support, immediately, at the suggestion of R. H. 
McDonald, Jr., Esq. Mrs. Geo. H. Bates of Wilming- 
ton took charge of the work in Delaware, and organ- 
ized a Committee which represented its different sections. 
She communicated directly by letter with all of the 
newspapers in the state, and in other ways exerted 
herself in behalf of the Association. 

In New York City, Mr. Edward L. Burlingame, has, 
at much personal sacrifice, interested a number of prom- 
inent citizens, but no actual presentation of the subject 
to the public has yet been made. The same is true of a 



H 



LONGFELLOW MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 



number of the other cities where associations have been 
formed, and the Society is under deep obHgations to the 
residents in those places, who have, at considerable 
personal inconvenience, labored to make this movement 
a success. 

Since the i6th of June, when the certificates of Hon- 
orary Membership were ready to be sent out, the Secre- 
tary has been engaged in issuing them, and up to the 
present time has sent out 3661 certificates, whicli are 
distributed as follows, throughout the States and Terri- 
tories of the Union, and foreign lands. 

California 

Canada 

Colorado 

Connecticut 

Dakota . 

Dist. of Columbia 

England . 

Georgia 

Germany 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa . 

Jamaica 

Japan 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Mexico 

Michigan 

Minnesota 



30 


Missouri .... 


4 


15 


Montana .... 


I 


9 


Nebraska 


I 


49 


New Brunswick 


• 13 


I 


New Hampshii-e . 


34 


84 


New Jersey . 


II 


12 


New Mexico 


2 


3 


New York . 


288 


2 


Nova Scotia . 


2 


20 


North Carolina 


I 


I 


Ohio 


29 


6 


Pennsylvania 


54 


I 


Rhode Island . 


55 


4 


So. America 


I 


4 


South Carolina . 


3 


I 


Sandwich Islands . 


6 


I 


Switzerland . 


I 


42 


Tennessee 


2 


16 


Vermont 


3 


2810 


Virginia . ... 


4 


3 


Washington Territory 


I 


13 


Wisconsin 


13 


9 


Wyoming Territory 


9 



REPORT OF THE FINANCE QOMMITTEE. 1 5 

The amount of money which has been received 
from Children's Certificates and from Honorary Mem- 
bers can be learned from the Treasurer's report. 

The work of the Committee has been, it must be con- 
fessed, not entirely confined to doing honor to Mr. 
Longfellow, although, indirectly, all that it has done 
has tended in that direction. The Committees have 
felt that such an eftbrt as that in which they were 
engaged was adapted to exert a powerful influence 
upon the country, educating the young to admire 
and venerate a pure and gentle life, and to appreciate 
the fac tthat material advancement, and the building up 
of fortunes, should not engross the attention to the neglect 
of the improvement of the mind, and the cultivation of 
the spiritual and intellectual faculties. This is the spirit 
in which the teachers and others interest the schools for 
work, as they have endeavored to get the youth under 
their care to become sharers in the memorial. With 
regard to older persons, of course, the same line of argu- 
ment does not hold ; but the Committees have felt that it 
was very much to be desired that, in this day of devotion 
to material interests, the country should stop and give a 
general and universal expression of its reverence for a 
man whose poems had gained a reputation wherever the 
English language is spoken : not because he had in- 
creased the wealth of the country, but because he had 
added to its sources of mental growth, and had given 
expression to the most elevated and spiritual aspirations 
and hopes. It is in this spirit that it is hoped to con- 



1 6 LONGFELLOW MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 

tinue the work, and to erect a Memorial which shall 
not only be worthy of its subject, but shall, in as great 
a degree as is practicable, give expression to the finer 
sentiments ot' the American people. In this view your 
Committee does not regrret that, in its efi^brt to make the 
Memorial geneval, by the oflTer of costly Certificates 
and Memorial cards to those who gave very small sums, 
the expenses of raising the required fund have been 
large. This outlay will bear fruit in the stimulus which 
has been given to the more elevated feelings of the 
people. 

An important item in the expense of administration, 
has been the postage on the vast number of circulars, and 
on the cards and certificates which have been distributed. 

The amount of money which the Treasurer reports 
does not fully represent the fruits of the labors of the 
Committee during the year, because it is probable that 
the local associations which have been organized will 
yet make large additions to the funds of the Society, with- 
out adding materially to the expense ; and there are other 
contributions which have not yet been paid, that will 
very soon come in. The expenses of the Association 
during the last portion of the year have been materially 
reduced, so that at present it is organized on an ecomom- 
ical basis, and, as there are on hand a large number of 
circulars and Children's Cards already printed, the 
future expenses may be expected to be quite small for 
some time. 

The last efforts of the Committees have been ex- 



REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. 1 7 

erted to bring about a simultaneous observance of the 
birthday of Mr. Longfellow, of which, of course, 
there is little to report to-day, except that the informa- 
tion that a general subscription was proposed for that 
day was sent to aboAt a thousand different newspapers 
throughout the country, and very genera^lly printed, with 
encouraging editorial comment. In a number ol cases. 
Superintendents of Schools, and teachers, sent for fur- 
ther information, and expressed their intention to cele- 
brate the day and make subscriptions to our funds. 

The Superintendent of Schools in Washington, in 
setting apart the 27th of February for the celebration 
of Mr. Longfellow's birthday, and in offering the 
children in the schools the opportunity to make contri- 
butions to the Memorial Fund, has expressed his views 
on the subject, which coincide with those of the Com- 
mittee. He says, " The purpose will be to give the pupils 
an opportunity to learn something of the life, char- 
acter, and writings of the good poet. His writings can 
be made use of in reading, recitation, composition and 
declamation exercises. The principal events and most 
noted characteristics of his life can be told by pupils or 
teachers. His lyrical poems can be sung to familiar 
tunes. Some of the beautiful and noble sentiments 
expressed by him in brief poetic form can be displayed 
asmottoes"; — thus bringing into prominent view the 
educational influence of our movement. 

Among the many educational periodicals which take 
an interest in the Memorial, is the New England 



lb LONGFELLOW MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 

Journal of Education of Boston, which issued an illus- 
trated broadside description of the movement, and 
offered to become the channel through which subscrip- 
tions might be forwarded to the Association. The 
Editor engaged in this work from sympathy with the 
views which have been held, not only by the Com- 
mittees, but by the Superintendents of Schools in 
Washington, and elsewhere, regarding the educational 
influence which it exerts. In order to give point to the 
celebration of Mr. Longfellow's bii-thday, the Editor 
caused an elaborate Memorial Exercise to be prepared, 
which was published in a late number of the Journal. 

In conclusion, we are pleased to report that the heirs 
of Mr. Longfellow have determined to make to the As- 
sociation a munificent gift of that portion of the poet's 
estate which the first movers of the enterprise had 
been -attracted by. The gift will be brought to the 
attention of the Meeting this evening, and its accep- 
tance will unquestionably assure the success of the 
enterprise, and enable the Association to raise to the 
memory of Mr. Longfellow a Memorial such as no 
American man of letters has ever yet been honored 
with ; which will be alike the pride of Cambridge, and 
the centre of interest to the thousands, in all parts of 
the world, who have been moved by the poet's verse. 
For the Finance Committee^ 

ARTHUR OILMAN, 

Cambridge, Feb. 27, 1883. Secretary. 



treasurer's report 19 



TREASURER'S REPORT. 



Total Receipts . . . $7,578.51 

Amount Expended . . . 2,613.73 



Cash in hand .... $4,964.78 

Boston, Feb. 22, 1883. 

In addition to the above there is in the hands of 
agents, — 

Cards and Certificates to the value of $1,688 

And subscriptions made but not paid, 525 

$2,213 



20 LONGFELLOW MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION. 



OFFICERS. 

President. 
James Russell Lowell. 

Vice-Presidents. 

Oliver Wendell Holmes, John G. Whittier, 

Charles W. Ehot, Charles Deane, 

E. N. Horsford. 

Secretary. 
Arthur Gilman, Cambridge, Mass. 

Treasurer. 
Benjamin Vaughan. 

Committee on Plans. 

James R. Lowell, Henry Van Brunt, 

Asa Gray, John Trowbridge, 

Charles Eliot Norton, W. P. P. Longfellow. 

Board of Directors. 

James Russell Lowell, E. N. Horsford, 

Arthur Gilman, Sam'l L. Montague, 

Benjamin Vaughan, Alex. McKenzie, 

James A. Fox, H. E. Scudder, 

Francis Foster, H. O. Houghton, 

James B. Ames, T. W. Higginson, 

H. P. Walcott, Charles E. Norton, 
J. G. Thorpe, Jr. 

All correspondence should be addressed to The Longfellow 
Memorial Association, Cambridge, Mass. 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



014 013 446 6 t 



